Ohio Ballot Initiative

March 16, 2011

Last year, caring citizens took to the streets across the state of Ohio and helped collect 500,000 signatures of registered voters to place an initiative on the statewide ballot to ban some of the cruelest forms of factory farming confinement: veal crates for calves, gestation crates for pigs, and battery cages for egg-laying hens. On the day these signatures were to be turned in, agribusiness came to the table and negotiated a compromise agreement, brokered by former Governor Ted Strickland, to phase out veal and gestation crates, and to prevent the construction of any new battery cage operations.

The newly-created Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) is responsible for implementing parts of the agreement, but recently voted to allow calves to be confined in veal crates, where they are kept in a state of misery, for most of their lives. This is a blatant violation of the compromise agreement and an affront to basic animal welfare principles. If you live in Ohio, please write to the OLCSB and urge them to reverse their position on veal crates when they meet again on April 5.

September 01, 2010

For citizens
concerned about farm animals, the cruel exploitation of calves raised for veal
has always been an issue of great concern. The calves are taken from their
mothers at birth, and chained by their necks in 2-foot-wide wooden enclosures
that prevent them from even turning around or lying down comfortably throughout
their short, painful lives. Farm Sanctuary has worked for decades to expose the
truth behind veal production, and we’ve seen a continuous reduction in the per
capita consumption of veal nationwide. Thankfully, some states are now passing
laws to ban this cruel form of confinement.

In Ohio –
one of the six largest veal producing states – the Ohio Livestock Care
Standards Board (OLCSB) is slated to discuss the veal issue soon. Earlier this
summer, an
agreementwas
reached between animal advocates and agribusiness representatives to phase out
veal crates along with other egregious farming practices in Ohio, but it’s
ultimately up to the OLCSB to officially put an end to one of the cruelest
factory farming practices in existence.

Over the
years, Farm Sanctuary and others have documented
the intolerable suffering experienced by calves raised for veal, including in Wisconsin,
the nations’ largest veal producing state. In the production, “Life Behind Bars,” Mary
Tyler Moore contrasts how calves want to live with how they are confined in
veal factories. This week, a new
investigative video narrated by Bob Barker was released by Mercy For
Animals and exposes cruelty at an Ohio veal farm. As a result, Costco has
announced that they are removing crated veal from their store shelves.

It’s
critical for Ohio citizens to contact
the OLCSB to advocate for an end to veal crates and other cruel confinement
systems. Meanwhile, all U.S. citizens can advocate for passage of the Prevention
of Farm Animal Cruelty Act in Washington, D.C. to eliminate the use of veal from confined calves, as well as eggs from battery caged hens and meat from pigs kept in
gestation crates in various federal programs like the National School Lunch Program. Please
urge your U.S. Representative to cosponsor H.R. 4733.

Finally,
it’s important to understand that the veal industry would not exist without the
dairy industry.For dairy cows to
produce milk, they have to be impregnated and give birth. Half the calves born
are male, and they are useless to the dairy industry so the veal industry was
created to use this plentiful supply of unwanted male calves.A few years ago, we released a video, called
“Behind
the Mustache,” that exposes this link between the veal and dairy
industries, and includes the story of three Holstein calves who escaped from a
certain early death to live their lives at our California shelter.

Throughout
our history, we’ve rescued an estimated 100 male dairy calves, many who would
have died at the hands of the veal industry had we not intervened.Unfortunately, we can’t rescue them all, and
laws take time, but there is one thing that you can do to save lives every time
you sit down for a meal.Not only can
you eliminate veal from your diet, you can also forego dairy.There are plenty of healthy alternatives on
the market in major grocery chains throughout the country – from soy milks,
rice milks, nut milks and hemp milks, the alternatives are plenty.You don’t have to participate in an industry
you know to be cruel, and every step toward compassion makes a difference for
farm animals.

July 08, 2010

In Ohio, half a million citizens signed petitions this year to place a measure on the statewide ballot to outlaw veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages. As the deadline to submit those signatures approached last month, agribusiness came to the table and agreed to phase out veal crates and gestation crates and to disallow any new battery cage operations from being constructed in Ohio. The fact that agribusiness leaders agreed to phase out veal crates and gestation crates, and put a moratorium on new battery cage facilities, is significant, indicating that these systems are coming to be widely recognized as unacceptable. Although we weren’t able to achieve a full phase out of battery cages at this time in Ohio, the signatures gathered for the initiative will remain valid and they can be submitted in the future if need be.

It is critical to continue educating consumers and pushing for an end to battery cages. So far, two states, California and Michigan, have passed laws to phase out battery cages, and we expect that number to grow in the coming years. And this week, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that prohibits the sale of eggs from facilities that do not adhere to California’s battery cage ban. California is the nation’s most populated state and it represents a huge market for eggs and other products so banning the sale of battery cage eggs in California is extremely significant and will go a long way toward pushing egg producers to move away from these cruel confinement systems.

Just 10 years ago, there were no laws in the U.S. to outlaw inhumane enclosures like veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages. Today, eight states (Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Maine, California, Michigan and Ohio) have taken steps to ban at least one of these cruel systems, and more are sure to follow. Finally, the cruelty of factory farming is being challenged, and changed.

July 01, 2010

Over the past year, more than 500,000 Ohio citizens signed a petition aimed at placing an initiative on the statewide ballot this November to ban cruel factory farming practices. Those signatures gathered by tireless volunteers, many of whom were Farm Sanctuary members, were to be submitted this week, kicking off an initiative battle to be waged over the course of the next several months. However, at the eleventh hour, as it became clear that we had enough signatures to make it on the ballot, agribusiness came to the table and an agreement was brokered by Ohio’s Governor Stickland. Here’s what came of the agreement pertaining to farm animals:

• A ban on veal crates, to be phased out within six years, as outlined in the ballot initiative.• A ban on new gestation crates in the state after December 31, 2010. Existing facilities are grandfathered, but must cease use of these crates within 15 years. • A permanent moratorium on permits for new battery cage facilities in place immediately.• A ban on the transport of downed cows and calves for slaughter, as outlined in the ballot initiative.• A ban on strangulation and other forms of on farm killing that are not included in euthanasia standards as outlined by the American Veterinary Medical Association and part of the ballot initiative.• Enactment of legislation establishing felony-level penalties for cock fighters.

This agreement didn’t accomplish everything we would like, as quickly as we would like, but we will continue raising awareness and actively fighting to ban these intolerably cruel systems. And, if agribusiness doesn’t comply with this agreement, we have the option to go back to the ballot with the 500,000 signatures already gathered.

Ohio has been known for its exceptionally weak animal protection laws and, as the second largest egg producer, it is among the most entrenched factory farming states in the U.S., so these developments are especially important. The moratorium on new egg laying facilities includes putting a stop to plans for a six million hen battery cage operation that was in the final stages of approval. And no less than six new gestation crate facilities were in the works in the state. We have driven a spike into the cogs of factory farming and agribusiness leaders are finally coming to recognize that treating cows, pigs, chickens and other animals as mere production units is inconsistent with popular sentiments.

When citizens speak up, change is inevitable. Agribusiness never would have come to the table had it not been for all the volunteers giving their time and commitment to this cause by gathering signatures and gaining endorsements. We are proud to have stood alongside these volunteers as well as several organizations working toward one common goal to end cruel factory farming practices in Ohio. The movement to protect farm animals is gaining momentum, and the reforms announced this week in Ohio will reverberate in Washington, D.C. and send ripples across the United States.

May 20, 2010

Across the U.S., hundreds of millions of farm animals, including calves raised for veal, sows exploited for breeding and hens used for egg production, are confined in crates and cages so tightly that they cannot walk, turn around or stretch their limbs. The animals experience both physical and psychological disorders, and their confinement is so cruel that it is being phased out across Europe. Seven U.S. states have now enacted legislation to reform inhumane factory farming systems, including California, where Farm Sanctuary worked alongside citizens in the Golden State to pass a voter initiative that won by a two to one margin in 2008, outlawing veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages. One year later, the Michigan legislature enacted a similar law. But, unlike agricultural leaders and lawmakers in other states, agribusiness officials in Ohio and their legislative cronies have vehemently opposed basic humane reforms.

Public opinion polls in Ohio demonstrate that Ohioans, like citizens in other states, believe that farm animals deserve to be treated with respect and should not be crowded into cages and crates so tightly that they cannot even turn around or stretch their limbs. Now, given the failure of Ohio’s legislature to address these issues, Farm Sanctuary and thousands of citizens across the state are mobilizing, collecting signatures to place an initiative on the statewide ballot to alleviate the suffering of 27 million farm animals who live in veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages in Ohio.

As you read this, Ohio’s animals are suffering and volunteers are in the streets, working hard to make a difference. We have collected more than 160,000 signatures, but there is still a long way to go to obtain the 600,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. If you live in Ohio, or know anybody who does, please get involved. This effort is absolutely crucial.

If we are victorious in Ohio, it will enhance our ability to create needed changes in other states, as well as in Washington, D.C. It’s time to dig deep. The animals are counting on us: www.ohiohumane.org.

May 14, 2010

Our Walk for Farm Animals is an annual, national event that educates the public about farm animal issues and raises vital funds for Farm Sanctuary’s rescue, education and advocacy work. The Walk brings together a community of compassionate people who care deeply about farm animals and who want to make a strong statement for positive change. We’ve held these Walks for more than 20 years, and each year, there are more Walks, and more people join and walk in solidarity for farm animals.

It’s a powerful and positive movement, and it relies on dedicated volunteers in communities across the U.S. and Canada to organize local Walks.

Last year, we had a record 67eventsalong with our first-ever virtual Walk, and more than 3,700 people participated.

We hope that this year everyone reading this will consider organizing a Walk in their city or town, adding to our impetus for change by giving people a forum to gather in support of compassion for farm animals. The more Walks and the more people who participate, the stronger the message we send to agribusiness and legislators that the status quo is not an option.

If you’re reading this in Boise, we need you. Tallahassee, we hope you’re inspired to join. Santa Fe, we’ve got our eye on you. And, if you’re anywhere in Ohio, we really need you because there’s a ballot initiative on the table for November and we have an historic opportunity to ensure that 27 million farm animals get some protection from cruelty and abuse.

Coordinating a Walk is a labor of love, and people who’ve volunteered before tell us it’s one of the best things they’ve ever done to express their compassion for farm animals. This might explain why some of them have been leading their Walks for a number of years, including several for more than a decade.

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry ... read more.

Making Hay with Gene Baur features personal blogs from Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder Gene Baur, as well as other entries focused on Farm Sanctuary’s advocacy efforts and the multiple ways that you can get involved and make a difference for farm animals.

Gene grew up in Hollywood, California and worked in commercials for McDonald's and other fast food restaurants. He adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1985, and today, he campaigns to raise awareness about the negative consequences of industrialized factory farming and our cheap food system. He lives in Washington, DC and is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary. Read more.